Pin-setting machine



Patented Dec. 5, 1922 4 SHEETS+SHEET I- .E. HEDENSKOOG.

PIN SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, I920.

Patented Dec. 5 1922 EV x WWII

mI ll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII E HEDENSKOOG.

Patented Dec 5 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Patented ea. 5, 1922 men STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST HEDENSKOOG', OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRUNSWICK- BALKE-COLLENDER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF '.DELA- w en.

PIN-SETTING MACHINE.

Application filed. August 9, 1920. Serial No. 402,366.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ennns'r Hnnnnsnooe, a citizen of the United States, residing in Muskegon, in the countyof Muskegon and State .of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pia-SettingMachines, of which the following is a specifi-- cation.

This invention relates in general in pin setting machines for bowling alleys, i. e., machines adapted to place the pins in desired playing arrangement upon the bowling alley beds.

A principal object of my present invention is the provision of a machine of this character which will accurately place the pins upon the spots in playing position and this independently of the wear of the 3 'pins from continued service or otherwise.

The continued bowling of the balls against the pins and their continued banging aboutthe pit and upon the alley frequently chip and otherwise wear the pins, and particu larly their body parts, i. e., their parts of largest diameter, and since these parts are desirably engaged to guide the pins into position in pin setting machines the provision of a, machine for accurate placement in front-to-back alinement of pins more or less worn presents a diflicult problem. My invention contemplates in, this regard the provision of a pin setting machine, the pin' setting action of which will not be dependent upon or influenced by the shape of the pins or the wear they have sustained.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a pin setting machine, the parts of which will be so con- 'strueted and arranged as to provide considerable clearance about the pins when placed in it so that adjustment of parts and provision of parts of minutely accurate dimension may be eliminated.

Another important object 'of the invention is the provision of a machine having these and other advantages, the pin receiving portions of which will permit easy, rapid placement of the pins in the apparatus without more than casual attention to the operation, so that the attention of the attendant maybe directed almost entirely to the picking up of the pins from the alley bed and the pit. In this connection my in vention contemplates a machine into whicl an attendant, 'afterrelatively little experience, may deposit the pins without looking at the machine at all.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a machine of the character described consisting of relatively, few parts, all of sturdy construction, and also having in it a minimum number of relatively movable members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine which will gently place the pins off the spots and thereafter move them onto the spots, whereby tendency to lose the spots is eliminated.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which taken in connection with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pin spottlng machine embodying my invention, the bed of the alley and the cross supporting shaft being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the setting frame; 1

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged front to back sections through the setting frame and showing the action in setting the pins upon 'usual pit is located at 14 rearwardly of the bed. Upon the side walls or partitions 13 I provide an upright stationary framework comprising vertical members or posts 15 fastened at 16 on the tops of the artitions and extending up to a head or rame top 17 from which depend socket members 18 receiving the upper ends of the posts. This head has a centrally disposed forwardly extending bracket arm 19. 4

The invention includes a' vertically movable frame comprising a lower member 21 for supporting the pins in upright position,

and a sliding on rolling upper member 22 for receiving the pins. The lower or supporting member 21 in the present instance consists of a metal sheet having its marginal edges upturned to form reinforcing flanges 23. This frame member is of general triangular form and is provided with ten apertures 24 arranged in the triangular relation of the spots of the alley bed. These apertures are materially larger than the greatest diameter of the pins and are surrounded by downwardly extending marginal flanges 25. Behind each aperture is located a pad S of any suitable material adapted to prevent undue wearing of the pins as they are placed in the apparatus.

Two bracket arms 27 extend up from the front corner of the frame and carry a pivot pin- 28 at their upper end. The frame is sustained by three cables, one 29 located at the front, and two 31 at the back. The cable 29 takes over a pulley 32 pivoted in bearings 33 depending from the bracket 19 and this cable is fast at its other end to a winding drum 34 fixed upon a cross shaft 35 rotatably held in bearings 36 depending from the frame top or head 17. The two cables 31 are fast at their lower ends at 37 to the sides of theframe 21 and take over sprockets 38 also fast on theshaft 35. These cables 31 support a weight 39 which counterbalances the apparatus or rather its moving parts.

A winding drum 41 is also fixed on the shaft 35 and a control cable 42 is wound about it and isv provided with a hand grasp 43. The upper frame member 22 comprises also a metal sheet 44 of general triangular form and having its marginal edges turned up into reinforcmg flanges 45. Beneath this are provided four flanged wheels 46 and 47 pivoted in lugs 48 extending down from. the upper member 22. Two of the wheels 46 are located at the rear corners of the frame and engage upon the upturned flanges 23. It is intended that this member 22 shall have a movement forwardly of the machine in the setting operation and to this end flanged portions of the lower frame member are formed into straight tracks 49 extendin lengthwise of the alley. The other two w eels 47- are located beneath the front end of the upper member 22 and engage angle tracks 51 suitably arranged for the purpose (see Fig.

The plate 44 is provided with apertures 52 arranged in accordance with the arrangement of the apertures 24 and in position over the pads S when the machine is in pin recelving or upper position. These apertures are preferably of diameter. materially greater than that of the greatest. diameter of the pins. Combined pin receiving and guiding pockets, indicated generally by ref erence character 53, are arranged to extend up from about the apertures 52. Each pocket 53 is preferably made of sheet metal material havm a flange 54 at its bottom adapted to be fast upon the upper surface of the plate 44 and having an upwardly extending cylindrical part 55. Above the cylindrical part 55 each pocket 53 is inclined rearwardly and upwardly and flares outwardly. At the top the pocket is provided with a portion extending straight up as indicated at 56. Thus constructed the pins may be thrown into the open mouths thus provided and by reason of the shape of each pocket 53 the pin is brought to a standing or upright position.

In this position contact is made with the body of the pin at the rear side and the head of the pin at the forward side. If desired these parts may be arranged so that the pin leans a slight amount toward the rear of the machine.

When the apparatus is lowered to deposit the pins upon the alley the upper frame member moves down with the lower frame member until the parts approach the alley bed. Just above the alley bed the upper frame member is moved forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. In this movement the round surface of the pin body is engaged by the round surface of larger diameter of the pocket 53. By reason of these differences of diameter the pin is brought into accurate alinement with its position upon the alley bed and the forward movement of the upper frame 22 by a straight line movement of the pin thus alined brings it into accurate registration with the spot it is to occupy. There is preferably a two-point engagement with each pin, or rather the pockets 53 preferably engage two elements of the surfaces of the pins and on their opposite sides and in planes extending longitudinally of the alley.

The forward movement of the upper frame member 22 is accomplished by a mechanism which Will now be described. A bell crank 57 is pivoted upon the pin 28 and has a depending arm connected by a link 58 with a lug 59 fixed on the forward end of the frame member 22. The other arm of this bell crank is connected to a rod 61 which extends throu h the forward end 62 of the bracket 19. ollars 63and 64 are fast on the rod, one above and one beneath the bracket, and a spring 65 is mounted upon the rod and between the collar 64 and the bracket 19. When the pins are in the frame and a setting is desired the attendant grasps the hand hold 43 and pulls downwardly. As the frame approaches the alley bed the downward movement of the rod61 is restrained by engagement of the collar63 of the bracket arm and through the cushioning spring 65. This results in forward movement of the upper frame part 22. In this movement the pins are slid off the pads S and drop the short remaining distance to the alley and behind the spots, this distance being preferably merely an inch or two. The frame continues on down this remaining distance, the upper member 21 continuing toward the front and sliding the pins accurately on to the spots.

.stop mechanism is provided to bring the parts to upper normal position without undue jar and this same mechanism'serves to provide an accurate guide for the frame in the pin setting operation.

It consists of two long downwardly extending guiding sleeves 66 rigid in sockets 68 in the head 17 and slidably embracing rods 69 extending through slots 71 in the frame part 22 and fixed at their lower ends in receiving sockets 73. Collars 74: are loose upon the rods 69 and rest upon cushioning springs 7 5 located upon the rods and between the collars 74: and sockets 73. These col? lars 7 L engage the lower ends of the sleeves 65 when the parts come to upper position.

It will be manifest that the apparatus includes relatively few parts and particularly few parts in moving contact with'each' other.

An attendant, by reason of the wide flar: ing mouths of the members 53 and the shape and arrangement of these mouths, may quickly and easily position the pins without careful attention to' the accuracy of their placement in the apparatus so that. the charging of the pin setting machine may be greatly expedited since substantially the entire attention of the operator may be given 20 (iahe picking up of the pins from the alley It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of'the invention or sacrificing-all of its material advantages, the

- form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: 1. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a vertically movable frame comprising an upper member for receiving the pins in substantially upright position and a lower member for supporting the pins in said position in the upper member, said lower member having openings for the pins and said upper member being movable relatively to the lower member, and means for operating the upper member to move the pins bodily into the openingsin the lower member.

2. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a vertically movable frame comprising an upper member for receiving the pins in substantially upright position and a lower member for supporting the pins in said position in the upper member, said lower member having openings for the pins and said upper member being movable conjointly with and relatively to the lower member, and means for operating the upper member in or about the lowered position of the frame to move the pins bodily on the lower member into the openings therein. Y

3. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame for receiving a set of pins and for setting them upon the spots of the alley bed, said frame comprising means for supporting the pins in upright position therein, and means for bodily moving said set of pins on said supporting of bowling pins and comprising a member having pockets to receive the pins, and a member for supporting the pins in upright position in said pockets, and means for moving said pocket member relatively to said supporting member when the frame has been lowered into position resting upon or closely adjacent to the alley bed for moving the set 1 of pins bodily on the supporting member and upon said spots.

6. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame for receiving a set of pins and for setting them upon the spots of the alley bed, said frame comprising means for supporting the pins in upright position and means for engaging the pins in a plane extending lengthwise of the alley, and means'for operating the engaging means to move .the pins bodily on said supporting .means and into position upon said spots.

7. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame for receiving a set of pins and for setting them upon the spots of the alley bed, said frame comprising a relatively movable means for engaging the pins in a plane extending lengthwise of the alley, and means for operating the engaging means to move the pins bodily on said supporting means into position upon sam spots.

8. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame for receiving a set alley, a movable frame for receiving a set 9. In a pinsetting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame comprising an upper member having pockets to receive the pins, said pockets being constructed to engage the pins at the front and at the back thereof in planes extending lengthwise of the alley, and i a lower member for supporting the pins in the upper member, said upper member being movable relatively to the lower member, and

means for operating the upper member to move the pins bodily on the lower member and into position upon said spots.

10. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame comprising an upper member for receiving the pins in upright position and a lower member for supporting the pins in the upper member, said lower member having openings for the pins and said upper member being movable relatively to the lower member and in a plane substantially parallel with the lower member, and means for operating the upper member to move the pins bodily on the lower member and into the openings therein.

11. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame comprising an upper' member for receiving the. pins in upright po-' sition and a lower member for supporting the pins in the upper member, said lower member having openings for the pins and said upper member being movable relatively to the lower member and in a plane substantially parallel with the alley bed, and means for operating the upper member to move the pins bodily on the lower member and into the openings therein.

12. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame comprising means for supporting the pins in upright position, means for lowering the frame to set the pins on the alley bed, and means for bodily moving the set of pins at or about the completion of said lowering movement to slide the pins bodily and lengthwise of the alley bed on and off of said supporting means, and onto the spots on the alley bed.

13. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame comprising a member for receiving the pins in upright position and a member for supporting the pins in said receiving member, said receiving member having means for engaging each pin on opposite sides thereof at different heights and 'in' a plane extending longitudinally of the alley, means for lowering and raising the frame, and means for moving the receiving frame relatively to the supporting frame to dislodge the pins from the supporting frame and set them upon the alley bed.

14. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a movable frame comprising a member having pockets therein to receive the pins in upright position and a member registering with said pockets to support the pins in the pockets when the frame is in elevated position, said receiving member being movable relatively to the supporting member and said pockets having means for engaging the pins at the front and at the back thereof in different planes and at different heights, means for lowering and raising said frame, and means for moving said receiving member relatively to the supporting member and in a plane substantially parallel with said supporting member to dislodge the pins from the supporting member and set them upon the spots on the alley bed.

15. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a vertically movable receiving and setting frame, comprising a pair of apertured frame members, one located beneath the other, and with the apertures out of registration when in upper position, whereby to permit the pins to stand upright through one frame member and upon the other said frame.

member, said frame members having relative horizontal movement when the frame is lowered to slide the pins into registration with the apertures of the lower frame member to deposit them upon the alley bed.

16. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a vertically movable receiving and setting frame, comprising a pair of apertured frame members, one located beneath the other and with the apertures out of registration when inupper position, whereby to permit the pins to stand upright through one frame member, said frame members having relative horizontal movement when the frame is lowered to slide the pins into registration with the apertures of the lower frame member to deposit them upon the alley bed, and pin guides engaging the pins on front and rear surface elements arranged in planes extending lengthwise of the alley.

17. Is a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a vertically movable apertured frame upon which the pins may rest in upright position, a pin positioning frame mounted thereon and movable horizontally with respect to the vertically movable frame in the pin setting operation and engaging the side of the pins in line contact and rearward in the direction of the movement of the frame to bring ,them into accurate registration wlth the spots of the alley bed.

18. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, the combination of a pair of vertically movable apertured frame members and arrangeable at an upper pin receiving position with. the apertures of the one memher out of registration with the apertures of the other to permit pins placed in the frame to extend through the apertures of the one member and rest upon the body of the lower,

; tica-lly movable apertured frame members and arrangeable at an upper pin receiving position with the apertures of the one member out of registration with the apertures ofthe other to permit pins placed in the frame to extend through the apertures of the one member and rest upon the body of the lower, means for lowering said frames to pin setting position, the lowering movement being accompanied by relative horizontal.movement of the frames lengthwise of the alley to bring the apertures into registration to permit the pins to rest upon the alley and said movement continuing to slide the pins on the alley bed into accurate registration with the spots.

20. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a frame movable toward and from the alley bed adapted to support the pins in the lowering movement in upright position and pin pockets having rearwardly flaring mouths and curved surfaces for engaging respectively the body of the .pin at the rear and the head of the pin at the front.

21. In apin set-ting machine for a bowling alley, a frame movable toward and from the alley bed adapted to support the pins in the lowering movement in upright position and pin ockets having rearwardly flaring mouths and curved surfaces for engaging respectively the body of the pin at the rear and the head of the pin at the front, said curved surfaces being of larger radius than the pin parts engaged thereby.

22. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a frame movable lengthwise of the alley and for receiving the bowling pins and placing them upon the alley bed in upright position, said frame sliding the pins, after placing them upon the alley bed, into accurate registration with the spots.

- 23. In a pin setting machine for a bowling alley, a frame for receiving a set of pins and setting them upon the spots of the alley bed,.said frame comprising fixed. supports for the pin bottoms and a plurality of pockets c-onjointly movable to slide the pin bottoms off the supports and along the alley onto the spots.

ERNEST HEDENSKOOG. 

